Burberry Prorsum: AW12

Burberry Prorsum Pre AW12

The latest collection from Burberry Prorsum showcases simple, sophisticated tailoring with strong shapes and silhouettes. The collection includes several knee length, wool coats, with a firm sense of heritage, while a slightly a-line cut creates a more modern edge. Others are constructed in shining patent material, making for much more of a statement wardrobe piece.

Suits are more delicate, with thin lapel blazers and slim fit trousers, set over smart shirts with small, spread collars. These staple pieces are accompanied by other statement additions: jumpers with sculptural lines in contrasting colours, and printed t-shirts. Brogue style footwear dominates – some plain, some with a spectator shoe style design.

The collection mixes a selection of colour palettes: first is an offering of warm, autumnal shades of camel, brown and taupe, followed by a more striking, monochromatic one, with the occasional splash of scarlet added into the final items in the collection. Pieces are either downplayed and kept simple, with a strong cut and simple colour, or made more eye-catching with bold animal inspired prints.

An explicit nod to the brand’s British heritage is made in some of the knitwear, with typically British images appearing on the fronts of jumpers. Cartoon designs include guards from Buckingham palace and London policeman, which juxtapose the otherwise ‘grown up’ feel of the collection.

My personal stand out pieces are the midnight blue wool coat and the camel coat with the black lapel – two timeless and wearable investments.